In this podcast, Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas discuss the state of social media, particularly Twitter, reflecting on its evolution and challenges. They cover topics such as toxic leadership in the tech industry, Twitter's recovery and disappointment in Zuckerberg's leadership, the concept of social media disruption, and the importance of community in shaping online platforms. The hosts invite listeners to engage in conversations about the changes in social media.

In this episode, cultural professional Ed Rodley discusses innovative experience design. Topics include virtual reality, building immersive worlds, and the concept of immersion. Ed introduces the ideas of the 'magic circle' and 'story worlds' to emphasize the diverse nature of immersion experiences.

On this post-Summer break episode of the Cohere podcast, Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas welcome design and strategy leader Melanie Kahl to discuss how we might design more comfortable shared digital spaces.  Using Melanie's recent article "" as a jumping off point, Bill and Lauren speak with Melanie about her career, her design and strategy practice, and how we might translate real-world customs, design patterns and affordances into the digital world to create more comfortable shared spaces.

Vincent Boon, community pioneer and co-founder of the OpenMeta DAO, discusses the connection between online communities and the metaverse, the basics of DAOs, and the future of community leaders in the metaverse. Topics include building an open metaverse and the DAO, avatars and reputation, inclusivity and diversity, and healthy skepticism.

Technologist and co-founder of OpenEXO, Kent Langley, joins Bill to discuss the current realities of crypto. They cover the origin of blockchain, how it works, and misconceptions about crypto. They also explore the relationship between crypto and communities, the concept of value in cryptocurrencies, and the potential impact of blockchains on community management.

In this episode, the hosts discuss the cyclical nature of online community investment and their personal experiences. They delve into the challenges faced by community professionals, lack of innovation in community platforms, and the importance of authentic engagement. They also explore patterns and processes for community building and emphasize the need for diverse strategies. Despite recurring challenges, they remain optimistic about the future of online communities.

Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas discuss the potential and challenges of DAOs, exploring their definitions, examples, and categories. They also delve into Web3 concepts, including the controversial cancellation of a member, and discuss the challenges and risks faced by individuals working in DAO communities.

This podcast explores the growing popularity of NFTs, the challenges of identifying valid use cases, and the exciting and unknown world of NFTs. They also discuss different NFT projects like Wavelength, digital preservation in Norway, Huxley Saga comic, Colony.io trading card game, and Recur project.

Season 3 of the Cohere Podcast focuses on the metaverse and the combinatorial effects of technology and trends shaping the next generation of the Internet. The hosts discuss their concerns about the future of the Internet and the need for improvements. They explore digital currency, NFTs, and their impact on cultural organizations. The podcast also delves into the concept of digital identity in the metaverse and the potential for quantifying value exchange in support communities.

Season 3 of the Cohere podcast is just around the corner. In Season 2, Dr. Lauren Vargas and Bill Johnston explored the role networks play in our lives - from the obvious to the subtle. In Season 3, Lauren and Bill focus on the topic dominating the discussion of our collective digital future: the Metaverse. The discussion will go beyond the hyperbolic (and eye roll-inducing) to have a forward-looking yet practical discussion of what our connected future looks like in a world of ambiently available digital networks - and what this means for us as individuals, citizens, societies, and as part of globally connected humanity. Stay tuned for new episodes starting the second week of February!